Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of rituximab injection combined with CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide+doxorubicin+vincristine+prednisolone) in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Methods:One hundred and twenty patients with DLBCL who treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2019 to June 2022 were selected as the study object. They were randomly divided into the study group (60 cases) and the control group (60 cases). The control group was treated with CHOP regimen, and the study group was treated with rituximab injection on the basis of CHOP regimen. The clinical efficacy, inflammatory reaction, immune function and adverse reaction were evaluated after 6 courses of treatment.Results:After treatment, the total clinical effective rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group: 88.33%(53/60) vs. 70.00%(42/60), there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 6.11, P<0.05). Before treatment, the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the two groups had no significant differences ( P>0.05); after treatment, the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased, and the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α in the study group were lower than those in the control group: (223.56 ± 21.28) ng/L vs. (267.35 ± 25.36) ng/L, (9.34 ± 2.75) μg/L vs. (11.96 ± 3.83) μg/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). Before treatment, the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM and IgG in the two groups had no significant differences ( P>0.05); after treatment, the levels of serum IgA, IgM and IgG were decreased, but the levels of serum IgA, IgM and IgG in the study group were higher than those in the control group: (1.83 ± 0.46) g/L vs. (1.34 ± 0.34) g/L, (1.15 ± 0.22) g/L vs. (0.83 ± 0.24) g/L, (10.67 ± 1.65) g/L vs. (8.02 ± 1.62) g/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, the incidence of thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, gastrointestinal reaction, bone marrow suppression and liver function injury in the study group were lower than those in the control group: 6.67%(4/60) vs. 20.00%(12/60), 15.00%(9/60) vs. 31.67%(19/60), 30.00%(18/60) vs. 58.33%(35/60), 5.00%(3/60) vs. 16.67%(10/60), 10.00%(6/60) vs. 25.00%(15/60), there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 4.62, 4.66, 9.77, 4.33, 4.88, P<0.05). Conclusions:The treatment effect of rituximab injection combined with CHOP regimen in DLBCL is significant, which can reduce the inflammatory reaction of the body, reduce the damage of immune function, and reduce the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the effect of total saponins of Panax japonicus(TSPJ) on ferroptosis of myocardial cells in diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM) rats and underlying mechanism.Methods:Experiment 1: SD rats were divided into control group, DCM group, low-dose TSPJ group, high-dose TSPJ group, and metformin(Met) group, with 10 rats in each group. Experiment 2: SD rats were divided into control group, DCM group, TSPJ group, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK) inhibitor Compound C group, and TSPJ+ AMPK agonist AICAR group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group, all rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to construct a DCM model. After 8 weeks of corresponding drug intervention, the body weight as well as glucose and lipid metabolism of rats in each experimental group were assessed, and the cardiac function indicators were detected with echocardiography. The levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), cardiac troponin I(cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB) were detected by ELISA technique. The pathological changes of myocardial tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of dismutase(SOD), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), reactive oxygen species(ROS) and Fe 2+ in myocardial tissue were detected. Western blot was used to detect ferroptosis, ferritinophagy, and the AMPK/mammalian target of rapamycin/UNC-51-like kinase 1(mTOR/ULK1) signaling pathway related proteins expression in myocardial tissue. Results:Compared with control group, left ventricular ejection fraction(EF), left ventricular short axis shortening rate(FS), peak blood velocity ratio(E/A) between early and late diastolic periods were significantly decreased in DCM group, left ventricular inner diameter(LVEDd) was increased, and the serum LDH, cTnI, CK-MB were increased, the levels of SOD, GSH were decreased, MDA, ROS, Fe 2+ were increased in myocardial tissue, the expressions of TFR1, NCOA4 LC3-II/LC3-I, Beclin-1, phosphorylated AMPK and phosphorylated ULK1 were increased, the expressions of GPX4, SLC7A11 and phosphorylated mTOR were decreased. Compared with DCM group, the above indicators of rats were significantly improved in each treatment group. Compared with the TSPJ group, the AMPK agonist AICAR reversed the effects of TSPJ on ferroptosis and ferritinophagy mediated by the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway in DCM rat cardiomyocytes. Conclusion:TSPJ can inhibit ferroptosis in DCM rat cardiomyocytes and improve myocardial injury by regulating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 mediated ferritinophagy.

Objective:To compare percutaneous Kirschner wiring and elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction in the treatment of radial neck fractures in children.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 96 children with radial neck fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Children's Hospital of Anhui Province from January 2020 to January 2023. They were 51 boys and 45 girls with an age of (7.0±2.5) years. By the Judet classification, there were 74 cases of type Ⅲ and 22 cases of type IV. Twenty-one cases were treated with percutaneous Kirschner wiring after ultrasound-guided reduction (Kirschner wire group) while 75 cases with elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction (intramedullary nail group). The surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, fracture healing time, and incidence of complications were compared between the 2 groups. Their postoperative X-ray films were evaluated according to the Métaizeau criteria, and elbow joint function was evaluated according to the Steel and Gtrham scoring at the last follow-up.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The 96 pediatric patients were followed up for (10.6±4.2) months after surgery. The surgical time [(18.5±2.6) minutes] and fluoroscopy frequency [4.0 (3.0, 4.0) times] in the Kirschner wire group were significantly less than those in the intramedullary nail group [(30.9±2.7) minutes, 8.0 (7.0, 9.0) times] ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in fracture healing time, good and excellent rate of postoperative reduction by the Métaizeau criteria, good and excellent rate of elbow joint function by the Steel and Gtrham scoring at the last follow-up, or incidence of complications ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of radial neck fractures in children, both ultrasound-guided percutaneous Kirschner wiring and elastic intramedullary nailing after ultrasound-guided reduction can lead to similar therapeutic effects, but the former can shorten surgical time, reduce intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and spare a secondary surgery.

Aim To investigate the effects of naringenin on atherosclerotic plaque extracellular matrix remodeling and plaque stability.Methods Murine vascular smooth muscle cells were isolated and treated with various doges of naringenin.ApoE-/-mice were fed with high-fat diet and received naringenin by lavage for 16 weeks.Intraplaque nec-rotic core,contents of collagen and fibrous cap thickness were measured by Sirius red-Haematoxylin staining.Elastin was detected by Van Gieson staining.Matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)activity was determined by gelatin zymography and fluorescence-gelatin staining.Results Naringenin(50 μmol/L)increased signal tansducer and activator of transciption 6(STAT6)phosphorylation and promoted tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3(TIMP-3)expression by 3.1-fold(P＜0.001).After naringenin(80 mg/kg)treatment,compared with the control group,the area of plaque necrotic core in aor-tic root decreased by 53％(P＜0.01),the thickness of fibrous caps increased by nearly 50％(P＜0.05),and the degree of elastic fiber degradation decreased.At the same time,naringenin promoted the expression of TIMP-3 in plaques,and corre-spondingly reduced the activity of MMP in plaques.Lentivirus mediated inhibition of TIMP-3 expression in vivo could reduce the protective effect of naringenin on plaque stability.Conclusion Naringin can increase the expression of TIMP-3 in smooth muscle cells,improve the composition of extracellular matrix,and promote the stability of atherosclerotic plaque.

Aim To study the effect of maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy on endothelial to mesenchymal transition of aortic vessels in adult offspring.Methods The pregnant mice were randomly divided into normal diet group and high-fat diet group,and the offspring mice were fed normally for 16 weeks after the mother gave birth.Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression and transcription of related proteins,and immunofluorescence and im-munohistochemical staining were used for pathological analysis.Results Compared with the offspring of maternal nor-mal diet during pregnancy,the expressions of vascular inflammatory factors,macrophage infiltration,monocyte-endothelium adhesion were significantly increased in the offspring of maternal high-fat diet(OHF)during pregnancy(P＜0.05).Vas-cular endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)activity,nitric oxide(NO)level were dramatically reduced(P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence results showed reduced endothelial cell marker CD31 and increased mesenchymal marker α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in OHF.Western blot analysis further confirmed the results,which showed that maternal high fat diet reduced vascular endothelial-cadherin(VE-cadherin)and CD31 and increased α-SMA and Vimentin in the offspring(P＜0.05).The maternal high fat diet increased the extracellular matrix protein disposition and transforming growth factor beta(TGF-β)/Smad signaling in endothelium(P＜0.05).Moreover,the maternal high fat diet reduced Kruppel-like factor 2(KLF2)expression by 76％in mRNA level and 59％in protein level(P＜0.05).Conclusion Maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy lead to a transition of endothelial to mesenchyme in the offspring aorta.The results provide a clue for prevention of vascular disease in early stage.

Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a common and serious complication following cardiac surgical procedures. The conventional diagnostic methods relying on serum creatinine and urine output changes often exhibit delayed responsiveness. Therefore, there is an urgent need for highly sensitive and specific biomarkers to detect and identify high-risk patients with CSA-AKI at an early stage, allowing for timely intervention and improved clinical outcomes. In this paper, the relevant biomarkers of CSA-AKI were reviewed in order to provide valuable information for the subsequent research on CSA-AKI.

Objective To evaluate the effect of clinical pharmacists participating in the treatment of hospitalized patients with diabetic foot by antibiotics management index and health economics index. Methods 40 hospitalized patients with diabetic foot of Wagner Grade 4 in the Endocrine Department of Air Force Medical Center from April to September 2017 were selected as control group, and 40 hospitalized patients with diabetic foot of Wagner Grade 4 in the Endocrine Department from April to September 2019 were selected as interventional group. No clinical pharmacists were involved in drug treatment of patients in the control group, while the clinical pharmacists in the interventional group participated in drug treatment, and implemented antimicrobial stewardship, medication reconciliation, pharmaceutical care and medication education. Antibiotics management indexes (use intensity of antibiotics, use rate of special class antibiotics) and health economics indexes (medicine expenses, hospitalization expenses) of the two groups were compared. Results The efficacy of the two groups was similar. The use intensity of antibiotics and use rate of special class antibiotics of the interventional group in which clinical pharmacists participated were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.01), so were the medicine expenses and hospitalization expenses (P<0.01). Conclusion Clinical pharmacists participating in the treatment of hospitalized patients with diabetic foot could reduce antibiotics administration index and health economics index, promote rational medicine use and save medical expenses.

Sjögren's syndrome （SS）， a disorder of immune system， is one of the dominant diseases treated by traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. China Association of Chinese Medicine organized experts in the field of TCM and western medicine rheumatology and pharmacology to discuss the advantages and optimal regimens of TCM for the treatment of SS. The experts generally agreed on the low early diagnosis rate of SS and the lack of targeted therapeutic drugs. In addition， autoimmune abnormality is the key factor in the occurrence of SS and deficiency of both Qi and Yin is the core pathogenesis. SS has unique tongue manifestations， which is expected to allow for the early diagnosis and treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine. TCM has advantages in treating SS in terms of alleviating clinical symptoms and systemic involvement， individualized treatment， relieving sleep and mood disorders， preventing the occurrence in the early stage， and enhancing the effectiveness and reducing toxicity in the treatment by integrated TCM and western medicine. In general， TCM has advantages in different stages of SS. Internal and external use of TCM， acupuncture， and acupotome are all available options. The optimal regimens should be determined on the basis of pattern identification， stage of disease， and the advantages of TCM. Clinical characteristics and biomarkers of SS should be studied to classify patients， so as to design precision evidence-based TCM regimens for SS. On the basis of unique tongue manifestations of SS， models for early diagnosis and poor prognosis identification of SS should also be established to achieve early prevention and treatment and to improve the prognosis. In the future， we should vigorously carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research on the treatment of SS by TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine and develop relevant guidelines to optimize and standardize current diagnosis and treatment， thereby laying a basis for clarifying and explaining the advantages of TCM in treating SS.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prenatal ultrasonographic features and genetic basis for an abortus suspected for type II Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS2). METHODS: A fetus diagnosed with CdLS2 at the Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University on September 3, 2019 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the fetus and family history was collected. Following induced labor, whole exome sequencing was carried out on the abortus. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasonography (33 weeks of pregnancy) has revealed multiple anomalies in the fetus, which included slightly widened cavity of septum pellucidum, blurred corpus callosum, slightly reduced frontal lobe volume, thin cortex, fusion of lateral ventricles, polyhydramnios, small stomach bubble, and digestive tract atresia. Whole exome sequencing has revealed a heterozygous c.2076delA (p.Lys692Asnfs*27) frameshifting variant in the SMC1A gene, which was found in neither parent and was rated as pathogenic based on the guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). CONCLUSION The CdLS2 in this fetus may be attributed to the c.2076delA variant of the SMC1A gene. Above finding has provided a basis for genetic counseling and assessment of reproductive risk for this family.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; De Lange Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Phenotype ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Fetus/diagnostic imaging* ; Mutation